Awning



E. M IN I Fi ed Gets s I[Illllllllllllmmllllllllllllll 4 N W nun Jan. 21, 1930. E. MARTIN ,563

AWNING Filed April 1, 192,9 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ear! Mora, 7'

/1 Harvey patented Jan. 21, 193i) UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE EARL MARTIN, OF LOS ANGEL-ES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO WM. I-I. HOEG-EE COMPANY INC, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA AWNING Application filed. April 1, 1929. Serial No. 351,781.

My invention relates to awnings and it has particular reference to awnings of the horizontal type better known in the art as marquees. Awnings of the marquee type as heretofore constructed are provided with frames which are rigid and therefore incapable of being collapsed to allow the awning to be folded to an out-of-the-way position when not in use. As a consequence, the awning 'when once installed before a window has to remain extended and thus exposed to the detrimental action of the wind in addition to shielding the window against the suns rays when not desired.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide an awning of the horizontal or marquee type which has a frame collapsible to permit the awning to occupy an extended position in which the flexible parts of the awning are maintained extended to function as the conventional marquee, and folded position in which the frame is compactly folded against the building upon which it is supported as well as the canvas parts of the awning, my invention being further characterized by the in clusion therein of a top or roof sheet of canvas or other flexible material and a valance both of which are movable to extended and folded positions.

I will describe only one form of awning embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view showing in perspective one form of awning embodying my invention in extended position above a store window.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the awning in top plan and folded against the building.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. l is a view showing the awning in top plan and extended from the building, portions of the awning being shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a frame which includes a pair of wall brackets comprising vertical shafts or pintles 15, journa-led in cars 16 secured to the wall of the building. Cotter pins 17 extend through the pintles 15 for securing connector elements 18 at the upper ends of the pintles and in a manner to permit rotational movement of the elements. The elements 18 in turn are fixedly secured to end members E of the awning frame, the latter being in the form of channel bars and made in sections 19 and 20 with one of the sections of each end member fixed to the corresponding element 18. The sections of each end member are pivotally connected at their confronting ends by means of a pin 21 which is extended through complemental ears on the sections, such hinge connection allowing the sections to occupy the extended position shown in Fig. 4: or the folded position shown in Fig. 2. In the extended position the sections are in longitudinal alignment While in folded position the sections are disposed one in advance of the other as illus trated in Fig. 2. The extended position of the sections is defined by means of an extension 22 secured to the section 20 and of such width as to fit within the channel side of the section 19 when the sections are in longitudinal alignment, it being understood that the extension 22 abuts the section 19 to restrict the sections against further outward movement so that they are maintained in longitudinal alignment.

The end members E are supported from above by means of chains 23 secured at the lower ends to the sections 20 and at the upper ends to the wall of the building. It would be understood that these chains aid the wall brackets in supporting the end members of the frame in horizontal position. The end members are braced from below by means of bars 24 which are secured to the sections 19 and pivoted on the pintles 15 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5.

The outer ends of the end members E are connected to each other by a front frame member 25 shown in the present instance as in the form of a tube the ends of which are pivoted to the outer ends of the sections 20 in order that the end members may be free to move to folded position when desired. Beneath the front frame member 25 is a second frame member 26 also in the form of a tube and supported by rods 27 which provide the pivots for the ends of the member 25 and which depend therefrom for engagement with the member 26. Brace bars 28 are se cured to the sections 20 and to the rods 27 so as to prevent the sections 20 from sagging and to otherwise effectively support the lower member 26, as will be understood.

A top or roof sheet S is illustrated as directly secured to the wall of the building, although it will be understood that it may be indirectly secured to the wall by the provision of a bar or other suitable means attached to the wall. The sheet Sis formed of canvas or other suitable fabric and is secured at its front edge to the frame member 26, and as such member is positioned below the main part of the frame, the sheet occupies when extended a position inclined with respect to the horizontal in order that proper drainage of water from the sheet may be secured. Extending around the awning frame and suitably secured to the end members E and the front member 25 is a valance V likewise formed of canvas or any other suitable fabric and of any suitable design such as the paneled and scalloped effect illustrated. This valance V depends from the awning frame when the latter is extended and is of such depth as to extend above and below the top or roof sheet S so that with the awning in the extended position illustrated in Fig. 1 the edges of the top sheet will be concealed when viewing the awning from the side or front and thus giving to the awning the appearance of a marquee type of canopy. Further, the valance serves to conceal the inclined position of the top sheet which naturally enhances the artistic appearance of the awning as a whole.

In the folded position of the awning as illustrated to advantage in Fig. 3, the valance by reason of its depth also extends above and below the top or roof sheet S so as to completely conceal the latter as well as the frame so that only the ornamental valance itself is exposed to view.

For moving the awning frame to extended position I provide a pair of cables or cords 29 each of which is fixed at one end to the inner end of the extension 22 as indicated at 30. From this end the cable extends rearwardly about pulleys 31 and 32 mounted on the respective sections 19 and element 18 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. From the pulley 32 the cable is extended lengthwise and above the top sheet S where it is trained about a pulley and thence to the opposite edge of the top sheet where it extends downward with the other cable 29 for connection to a ring 34: within easy reach of the operator. By pullin idownwardly upon the ring 34 the two cables 29 are actuated to move the extensions 22 outwardly thereby moving the sections 19. and 20 to extended position, the extensions seating within the sections 19 and thus conlining the sections to the aligned position illustrated in Fig. 4.

For collapsing the sections 19 and 20 to effect folding of the awning frame, I provide a pair of cables or cords 35 connected at one of their ends to the lower ends of the pins 21. Each cable 35 is extended from the respective pin 21 inwardly and rearwardly and around a pulley 36, and from the latter rearwardly around a pulley 37 secured to the wall of the building. From the pulley 37 the two cables 85 are extended to the same edge of the top sheet S as the cables 29, and after passing around a pulley 38 they extend downwardly where they are connected to a ring 39. The ring 39 is likewise within easy reach of the operator so that by pulling downwardly upon the ring the two cables 35 are actuated to move the pins 21 inwardly thereby breaking the joint between the sections 19 and 20 and moving the end members to collapsed position. The collapsed position of the end members is illustrated in Fig. 2, and in moving the members to this position the front frame members 25 and 26 are moved horizontally to points adjacent the wall of the building. In moving the frame to folded position the valance is likewise folded and the top or roof sheet S is folded beneath the valance in the following manner and by the following means:

The two pulleys 36 are connected to a rod 40 secured within a sleeve 11 stitched or otherwise secured to the top sheet S as clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. This rod 40 provides a rigid connection between the pulleys 36, and when the cables 35 are pulled to collapse the awning they exert an upward pull on the rod 40 which causes the sheet S to be folded upwardly and longitudinally in such manner that it is concealed by the valance V as will be clear from a consideration of Fig. 3.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of awning embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An awning having a frame adapted to be supported in a horizontal position and movable to occupy extended and folded positions horizontally, a top sheet mounted on the frame so as to be foldable and extensible with the frame, and a valance attached to and depending from the frame so as to surround the top sheet and frame when the latter is extended and to cover the top sheet when the latter is folded.

2. An awning comprising a frame having elements so connected as to permit folding and extension of the frame when the latter is supported in horizontal position, a sheet so supported on the frame as to be foldable and extensible with and by the frame, and means for moving the elements to fold and extend the frame and to fold said sheet simultaneously with folding of the frame.

3. An awning comprising a frame having elements so connected as to permit folding and extension of the frame when the latter is supported in horizontal position, a sheet so supported on the frame as to be foldable and extensible with and by the frame, a valance on the frame, and means for moving the elements to fold and extend the frame and to fold the sheet in such manner that it will be covered by the valance.

at. A marquee type of awning comprising a frame having parts movably connected so as to permit folding and extending of the frame, a top sheet connected to the frame so as to occupy an inclined position when extended. and a valance connected to the frame so as to depend therefrom and to extend above and below the top sheet when the latter is extended.

5. A marquee type of awning comprising a frame having parts movably connected so as to permit folding and extending of the frame, a top sheet connected to the frame so as to occupy an inclined position when extended, and a valance connected to the frame so as to depend therefrom and to extend above and below the top sheet when the latter is extended or folded.

6. An awning having a horizontally disposed frame including members pivotally connected so as to permit the frame to be extended and folded horizontally, means for moving the members to cause the frame to 00- cupy extended position, and means for moving the members to cause the frame to occupy folded position, both of said means being situated for operation from a common point.

7. An awning comprising a frame collapsible to occupy extended and folded positions, means for supporting the frame horizontally, a top sheet mounted on the frame so as to be extensible with the latter, means for moving the frame to extended position, means for moving the frame to folded position, and means operable by the last means for folding the top sheet vertically and longitudinally.

8. An awning as embodied in claim 7 wherein a valance is attached to the frame so as to depend therefrom, said valance extending above and below the top sheet when the latter is extended or folded.

9. An awning comprising a frame including a front member, end members, means for supporting said members horizontally, the end members being pivotally connected to the front member and said means and formed of sections so connected as to permit folding or extending thereof, a top sheet so supported on the frame so as to occupy an inclined position when the frame members are extended,

a valance supported on the frame, and means operable to actuate the end members for moving the latter to extended or folded position.

10. An awning as embodied in claim 9 wherein the last mentioned means comprises flexible elements certain of which are connected to the top sheet so as to cause folding thereof vertically and longitudinally when the frame is moved to folding position.

11. An awning frame having end members each comprising sections pivotally connected to fold inwardly, and extensions on the members for defining the extended position of the sections.

12. An awning frame having end members each comprising sections pivotally connected to fold inwardly and extensions on the members for defining the extended position of the sections, flexible means connected to the end members for moving the latter to folded position, and a second flexible means connected to the extensions for moving the end members to extended position.

13. An awning comprising a frame having end members composed of sections pivotally connected to occupy extended and folded positions, extensions on certain of the sections for defining the extended position of the members, a top sheet connected to the frame so as to be foldable and extensible with the frame, a rigid element carried by the top sheet, and flexible means connected to the end members and operable to move the end members sections to folded position, said flexible means being connected to said element so as to fold the top sheet vertically upward and longitudinally simultaneously with movement of the frame to folded position.

14. An awning as embodied in claim 13 wherein a valance is carried by the frame so as to extend above and below the top sheet when the latter is extended or folded.

15. An awning comprising a frame, a roof sheet on the frame, and a valance on the frame extending above and below the roof sheet.

EARL MARTIN. 

